Holographic occlusion detection system for infusion pumps

ABSTRACT

A holographic occlusion detection system has a white-light holographic label placed onto a sensing portion or surface of a pressure sensor connected to infusion tubing. The pressure sensor at the sensing portion can have a relatively thin wall section and may be wider and flatter than a normal cross section of the infusion tubing. The label is then illuminated by a polychromatic light source, and the light reflected off the holographic label is then received by a photodetector. Pressure changes within the tubing cause a change in orientation of the white-light holographic label, thereby resulting in a shift in the peak wavelength of the reflective light sensed by the photodetector. This shift in wavelength can then be calibrated to the swelling of the sensing portion so that pressure within the infusion line can be calculated. In another variation, monochromatic light is reflected off a holographic label, and pressure changes are detected by measuring the amplitude of the reflected light.

BACKGROUND

Infusion pumps are used in a broad spectrum of medical uses. Forexample, infusion pumps can be used to deliver nutrients to feedpatients as well as medications, such as insulin, chemotherapy drugs,hormones, and opiates, to name just a few. Infusion pumps typicallydispense liquids on a continuous, intermittent, and/or a patientcontrolled basis. One of the main advantages of infusion pumps is theirability to precisely dispense accurate volumes of fluid over longperiods of time. To ensure accurate dispensing control, the pressure ofthe fluid needs to be tightly monitored.

High pressure conditions created by downstream occlusions or blockagesin the patient's vein or kinks in the tubing of the infusion pump can bequite dangerous. Likewise, low pressure conditions created by upstreamocclusions or lack of fluid can also be problematic. Occlusion detectionsystems have been developed in which a strain gauge in the pump detectsthe aggregate force to move the fluid through the entire system.However, the signal-to-noise ratio in these systems is quite poor, andcurrent systems require a very high build up of sensed force in thesystem before a blockage is detected. These delays in detectingblockages can be very catastrophic.

Occlusion detection systems have been proposed in which the pressure issensed along the tubing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,143 toMalmstrom et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference, describesan optical pressure monitoring system in which a photodetector detectschanges in the diameter of the tubing to in turn detect pressure changesby monitoring the amount of light obstructed by the tubing. However, theinventors of the present invention discovered such a system is prone toerrors created by the optical properties of the tubing, the tubing'sorientation, the liquid being pumped, and/or the ambient conditions. Inaddition, it was found that tubing with different elastic or otherphysical characteristics can be accidentally used, which can in turncreate erroneous readings.

As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,153 to Davis et al., which ishereby incorporated by reference, describes an infusion device in whichocclusions are detected by internally reflecting light within thetubing. The inventors similarly found this system to be prone to errorscreated by the properties of the liquid being pumped and by the tubing.

In different fields, other techniques have been proposed to detectpressure. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,640 to Cindrich, which ishereby incorporated by reference, detects pressure changes by usingoptical interferometry to monitor the deflection of a diaphragm.However, it has been discovered that optical interferometry requiresprecise alignment and matching of the various optical components inorder to produce real world accurate measurements, which is notpractical in many medical environments.

Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.

SUMMARY

The holographic occlusion detection system and method described hereinaddresses the problem of poor occlusion detection within infusiontubing. It solves this problem by placing a white-light holographiclabel onto a sensing portion or surface of a pressure sensor connectedto the infusion tubing. In one example, the pressure sensor at thesensing portion can have a relatively thin wall section and may be widerand flatter than a normal cross section of the infusion tubing. Thelabel is then illuminated by a polychromatic light source, and the lightreflected off the hologram is then received by a photodetector. Pressurechanges within the tubing result in a physical distortion of thewhite-light holographic label, thereby resulting in a shift in the peakwavelength of the reflective light sensed by the detector. This shift inwavelength can then be calibrated to the swelling of the sensing portionso that pressure within the infusion line can be calculated. Theholographic label can also have a unique optical signature that helps todistinguish the pressure sensor from other types so as to reduce thechance of an improper one being used.

The optical signature can be based on the color of the light reflectedoff of the holographic label and/or based on the orientation of theholographic label. In another example, the holographic label can beoptimized to reflect light based on the color of the light source used.If the wrong diffraction grating was used, it would be easily detectedbased on the amplitude of light reflected off of the holographic label.For instance, depending on the light source, the holographic label wouldbe optimized for the particular light source. In other examples, thelight source, detector, or both can be optimized for the holographiclabel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an infusion pump system according toone embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holographic pressure sensor forsensing pressure in the infusion pump system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the holographic pressure sensor when a low orno pressure condition exists.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the holographic pressure sensor when normalpressure conditions exist.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the holographic pressure sensor when a highpressure condition exists.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holographic pressure sensor forsensing pressure in which the grating lines run parallel relative to theflow of the fluid.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a holographic pressure sensor forsensing pressure in a syringe-type setting for an infusion pump in whichthe grating lines of the holographic label run perpendicular to the flowof the fluid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiment, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail,although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art thatsome features that are not relevant to the present invention may not beshown for the sake of clarity.

The reference numerals in the following description have been organizedto aid the reader in quickly identifying the drawings where variouscomponents are first shown. In particular, the drawing in which anelement first appears is typically indicated by the left-most digit(s)in the corresponding reference number. For example, an elementidentified by a “100” series reference numeral will first appear in FIG.1, an element identified by a “200” series reference numeral will firstappear in FIG. 2, and so on.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an infusion system 100 according toone embodiment. It should be appreciated that this infusion system 100can be used in a large number of medical applications including, but notlimited to, supplying medical-related liquids to patients, such asinsulin, saline, nutrients, opiates, and chemotherapy drugs, to namejust a few examples. As illustrated, the infusion system 100 includes aninfusion pump 102 for pumping a liquid, an upstream section of tubing104 for transporting the liquid from the infusion pump 102, an occlusionor pressure sensor 106, a downstream section of tubing 108 fortransporting the liquid from the pressure sensor 106, and a deliverydevice 110 for delivering the liquid to the patient. In the illustratedembodiment, the delivery device 110 includes a needle 112 for deliveringthe liquid to a patient intravenously. The upstream section of thetubing 104 connects the pressure sensor 106 to the infusion pump 102,and the downstream section of tubing 108 in turn connects the deliverydevice 110 (i.e., the needle 112) to the pressure sensor 106. In otherwords, the pressure sensor 106 is incorporated into the tubing thatsupplies the liquid to the patient. In contrast to traditional systemsin which a strain gauge in the pump mechanism indirectly infers thepressure, this construction in which the pressure sensor 106 is disposedalong the tubing provides faster and more accurate results. As will beexplained in greater detail below, the pressure sensor 106 is designedto assist in ensuring that the proper one is used for the particularadministered fluid and/or medical procedure. By the very nature of thepressure sensor 106, the infusion system 100 is able to determine if thecorrect pressure sensor 106 has been installed for the particularsituation.

Turning to FIG. 2, it shows a perspective view of one example of thepressure sensor 106. As can be seen, the pressure sensor 106 includes asensor body 202 and a holographic label 204 with diffraction gratinglines 205 affixed to the sensor body 202. The sensor body 202 in theillustrated embodiment is generally rectangular and box shaped.Specifically, the sensor body 202 has a holographic label wall (surface)or sensing portion 206 to which the holographic label 204 is affixed andan opposing surface or wall 208 that is joined to the holographic labelwall 206 through sidewalls 210. The sensor body 202 has a hollowinterior through which the liquid flows form the upstream section of thetubing 104 to the downstream section of tubing 108. Relative to thewalls of the tubing and the sidewalls 210, the holographic label wall206 is more elastic such that it is able to deform as the pressureincreases. In the illustrated embodiment, both the holographic labelwall 206 and the opposite wall 208 are made from elastic material thatis thinner than the rest of the pressure sensor 106 as well as thetubing in order to facilitate deformation as the pressure changes. Theholographic label 204 is made of flexible material that is also able todeform as the holographic label wall 206 deforms. The holographic label204 in the depicted embodiment is a rainbow transmissive orpolychromatic (e.g., white-light) type hologram. With the holographiclabel 204 being a rainbow transmissive type, less expensive and simpleroptics can be used because, among other things, the optics do notrequire monochromatic light sources, such as expensive lasers.

The pressure sensor 106 is specifically designed to sense pressuresbased on a number of factors to ensure accurate results, including thephysical characteristics of the infusion pump 102, the tubing, thedelivery device 110, and the fluid being pumped along with the medicalrequirements of the patient. In other words, the operational tolerancesor sensitivity of the pressure sensor 106 is selected based on theparameters for the specific medical use. The elastic properties andthickness of the holographic label wall 206 along with the holographiclabel 204 are selected depending on the range of pressure changes thatneed to be monitored. To enhance sensitivity, the sensor body 202 iswider and flatter than a normal cross section of the infusion tubing.

The infusion system 100 includes an optical detection system 212 forsensing the distortion of the holographic label 204 as the holographiclabel wall 206 expands and retracts as the pressure changes. The opticaldetection system 212 is operatively coupled to the infusion pump 102 tocommunicate the pressure readings to the infusion pump 102. The infusionpump 102 includes one or more processors, memory, and/or otherelectronics that calculate the pressure based on the readings from theoptical detection system 212. The infusion pump 102 outputs the pressurereadings to an output device, such as a display and/or a speaker.Looking at FIG. 2, the optical detection system 212 includes a lightsource 214 and a photosensor or photodetector 216 for detecting lightfrom the light source 214 that is reflected from the holographic label204. The light source 214 is a broad-spectrum or polychromatic lightsource, and in one particular example, the light source 214 outputswhite-light. The photodetector 216 is configured to detect thewavelength of the light from the light source 214 reflected off theholographic label 204. It should be noted that the orientation of thelight source 214 and photodetector 216 relative to the diffractiongrating lines 205 of the holographic label 204 are perpendicular or atleast transverse with respect to one another. In other words, in eachcase, the light shines perpendicular relative to the diffraction gratinglines 205 on the holographic labels 204. This facilitates more accuratereadings. By having the light shine in a perpendicular manner, thisparticular configuration relies on a linear aspect of the diffractiongrating lines 205. That is, the increasing spacing or gapping betweenthe various diffraction grating lines 205 will linearly affect thefrequency of light reflected from the diffracting grating, which is thensensed by the photodetector 216. For example, with polychromatic lightsources, the wavelength will cause a color shift in the reflected light.This shift is not based on the amplitude of the light but rather thefrequency of the light reflected, thereby ensuring more precisemeasurements. When the pressure changes, the holographic label 204distorts, which in turn shifts the peak wavelength of light reflectedfrom the holographic label 204 that is sensed by the photodetector 216.This shift in wavelength can then be correlated to the swelling orcontraction of the sensor body 202 so that pressure within the infusionline or tubing can be calculated. By measuring the change in the peakwavelength or color, the pressure sensor 106 is less prone to errors dueto changes in optical conditions, such as changes in ambient lightingconditions, the intensity of the light output from the light source,etc.

As noted before, traditional interferomic techniques for detectingpressure changes requires expensive, complicated optical components andprecise alignment of the components, which is not practical undertypical medical conditions. Having the holographic label 204 being arainbow transmissive type hologram allows the light source 214 to be abroad-spectrum light source, such as a conventional white-light source(e.g., traditional light bulb, halogen light, fluorescent light, LED,etc.) Polychromatic light sources are typically simpler and lessexpensive than monochromatic light sources, such as lasers, which areusually found in systems that utilize interferomic techniques. With theholographic label 204 being directly attached to the sensor body 202,the need for additional optical components like diffraction gratings isreduced, thereby making replacement easier and less expensive.

In addition, having the holographic label 204 attached to the sensorbody 202 reduces the chance for errors. The pressure ranges andsensitivity for the pressure sensor can vary depending on the demandsfor a particular medical application. The size of the tubing andresulting pressure can also vary depending on the various demands. Forinstance, one type of pressure sensor 106 may be required for a lowpressure or low fluid viscosity use, and a different type might berequired for a different medical fluid that is applied with higherpressure. The elastic properties and wall thickness of the holographiclabel wall 206 can be adjusted depending the required conditions. If thewrong type of pressure sensor 106 is used, dire consequences can occur.To address this issue, the holographic label 204 in one embodiment has aspecific optical signature (e.g., light pattern) that the opticaldetection system 212 uses to identify whether the pressure sensor 106 isthe proper one for the particular application. The sequence of thereflected colors, orientation of the diffraction grating lines 205,and/or the optical patterns on the holographic label 204 is used todistinguish one type of pressure sensor 106 from another. The uniqueoptical signature of the holographic label 204 reduces the need forsecondary identifiers, such as barcodes, that are not directly relatedto making measurements. On occasion, such secondary identifiers can beapplied to the wrong sensor, and they increase the cost of the sensor.This ability to identify the type of pressure sensor 106 is helpful inmedical situations in which the fluid contacting parts are usuallydisposed of after use. With this design, the relatively inexpensivesensor body 202 and holographic label 204 are disposable after each use,while the relatively more expensive light source 214 and photodetector216 can be reused. Again, this ability of the holographic label 204 toconfirm that the proper infusion tubing kit is installed can beinvaluable due to the kit's disposable nature.

Over time, the elastic properties of the sensor body 202 can changeand/or degrade, and there can be some variation in properties due tomanufacturing differences. With the unique holographic signature of theholographic label 204, the infusion pump 102 is also able to calibratethe pressure sensor 106. Through the unique holographic signature, suchas a unique color pattern and/or image pattern, the infusion pump 102 isable to calibrate known pressure levels based on the predefined colorand/or image pattern sequences for the holographic label 204 stored inthe memory of the infusion pump. For example, the holographic label 204in one embodiment is designed to progressively reflect red, blue, andgreen onto the photodetector 216 as the pressure increases from low, tonormal, and then to high pressure. Normally, in this example, thephotodetector 216 should detect red when low pressure conditions exist,but if blue is detected when no pressure is applied, the infusion pump102 can recalibrate so as to expect green under normal pressureconditions. Alternatively, the infusion pump 102 can alert the operatorwhen such an out of calibration condition occurs. Moreover, anydeviations in the expected sensed light can indicate that the sensorbody is improperly installed (i.e., not oriented properly) and/or thepressure sensor 106 is defective, worn, leaking, etc., and the infusionpump 102 can alert the operator to the same. For instance, if theprogression of peak colors is not what is expected for a particularpressure sensor 106, the operator can be alerted.

The tubing 104, 108, the pressure sensor 106, and the delivery device110 in one example are integrated together into a single kit that can besupplied and disposed of as a single unit. Once the kit is properlyloaded into the infusion pump and the sensor body 202 is properlyloaded/oriented relative to the optical detection system 212, the lightsource 214 shines light onto the holographic label 204. Thephotodetector 216 detects the optical signature of the pressure sensor106 based on the light reflected from the holographic label 204. Basedon the detected optical signature, the infusion pump 102 determineswhether or not the correct pressure sensor 106 (or kit) has beeninstalled as well as if it has been installed properly. For instance, animproper installation can be detected based on the relative orientationof the diffraction grating lines 205 on the holographic label. Forinstance, if the holographic label is located at the wrong orientationrelative to the photodetector 216, the presence, color, and/or intensityof the light can be different than what is expected, which in turn canindicate an improper installation. If an error has been detected, suchas the wrong pressure sensor 106 is installed, the infusion pump 102takes appropriate actions to correct the error, like alerting theoperator about the problem and/or preventing operation of the infusionpump 102. This error detection can also occur during priming of theinfusion pump 102. In addition, the infusion pump 102 can initiate acalibration procedure in which known pressures are applied to thepressure sensor 106, and the light reflected off the holographic labelis compared to a standard for the particular pressure sensor 106 in themanner as explained above. The readings then are adjusted, or not,depending on the differences between the readings and the standard.After a successful calibration process, the infusion system 100 is readyto pump the fluid.

During operation, the holographic label 204 is illuminated by thepolychromatic light source 214, and the light reflected off of thehologram label 204 is then received by the photodetector 216. Pressurechanges within the tubing result in a change in stretching orcontracting of the holographic label 204, thereby resulting in a shiftin the peak wavelength of the reflective light sensed by thephotodetector 216. This shift in wavelength can then be calibrated tothe swelling of the sensor body 202 so that pressure within the infusionline can be calculated.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show a side view of the sensor body 202 at differentpressure levels. FIG. 3 shows the state of the sensor body 202 when thefluid has a low pressure. As noted before, the low pressure for examplecan be the result of kinking or an occlusion in the upstream section ofthe tubing 104. Looking at FIG. 3, the holographic wall 206 and theholographic label 204 are generally flat. At this position, the colorand/or pattern of light received at the photodetector 216 from theholographic label 204 will be indicative of a low pressure. FIG. 4 showsthe state of the pressure sensor body 202 under normal pressureconditions. As depicted, the holographic label 204 expands or bulgesslightly such that the holographic label 204 reflects the light onto thephotodetector with a color and/or pattern that is distinguishable fromthe other pressure levels. FIG. 5 illustrates the state of the pressuresensor when a high pressure condition occurs. High pressure conditionscan occur due to blockages or occlusions within the patient, in thedelivery device, and/or along the downstream section of tubing 108. Atthis high pressure state, the holographic label extends farther suchthat the color and/or pattern of the light reflected off the holographiclabel 204 is distinguishable from the other pressure states. Based onthe pressure readings from the optical detection system 212, theinfusion pump 102 can take any number of actions (or inactions), such asactivating an alarm, displaying the pressure readings, and/or regulatingthe output of the pump, to name just a few examples. Eventually, whenappropriate, the pressure sensor 106 or the kit containing the pressuresensor 106 can be removed and discarded, and replaced with a new one.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a pressure sensor 600 accordingto yet another embodiment. As can be seen, the pressure sensor 600incorporates a number of features common to the previously-describedembodiments. For example, the pressure sensor 600 includes the opticaldetection system 212 with the light source 214 and the photodetector 216along with the tubing 104, 108. For the sake of clarity as well asbrevity, these common components will not be described in detail below,but please refer to the description of the features mentioned in theother parts of the application.

The pressure sensor 600 has a sensor body 602 that has a cylindricalshape. It is contemplated that the cylindrical-shaped sensor body 602can be used in a wide variety of environments, such as for syringe-typeapplications. In the illustrated embodiment, the diffraction gratinglines 205 extend generally parallel to the flow path of the fluid in thetubing 104, 108. As such, the light source 214 and the photodetector 216are oriented generally perpendicular to the tubing 104, 108 such thatthe light from the light source 214 is perpendicular to the diffractiongrating lines 205 on the holographic label 204. With this construction,the spacing or gapping between the diffraction grating lines 205 willlinearly change as the sensor body 602 shrinks or enlarges which in turnlinearly affects the frequency of light reflected from the holographiclabel 204. This shift is not based on the amplitude but rather on thefrequency of the light reflected.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a pressure sensor 700 accordingto still yet another embodiment. As can be seen, the pressure sensor 700in FIG. 7 shows a number of features in common with the one previouslydescribed with reference to FIG. 6. For example, the pressure sensor 700in FIG. 7 includes the optical detection system 212 with the lightsource 214 and photodetector 216, the tubing 104, 108, and the sensorbody 602 having a cylindrical shape. As can be seen, the pressure sensor700 in FIG. 7 is configured in a fashion similar to the pressure sensor600 in FIG. 6, but there are a few differences. In particular, thediffraction grating lines 205 of the holographic label 204 generallyextend in a circumferential direction relative to the sensor body 602such that the diffraction grating lines 205 form a series of rings. Withthe diffraction grating lines 205 extending in a circumferentialdirection in FIG. 7 rather than the parallel manner relative to thetubing 104 in FIG. 6, the light source 214 and the photodetector 216 thetubing 104, 108 such that the emitted light is perpendicular relative tothe grating 205 on the holographic label 204. Again, as the sensor body602 swells or shrinks, the gapping between the various diffractiongrating lines 205 linearly changes which in turn linearly affects thefrequency of light reflected from the holographic label 204. Thisproduces relatively easy to interpret linear changes. In the illustratedembodiment, the holographic label 204 extends completely around thesensor body 602, but in other variations, the holographic label canextend only around a portion of the sensor body 602.

Additional Embodiments

While a single embodiment has been described in detail above, there aremany variations that can incorporate similar concepts. From thediscussion above it should be recognized that the pressure sensor 106has some unique advantages specially tailored for the medical field.Nevertheless, it is envisioned that various features or concepts relatedto the pressure sensor 106 can be adapted for use in non-medical fields.Moreover, it also should be understood that infusion system 100 can beused for both human and non-human patients. Although a number ofcomponents, such as the infusion pump 102, the tubing 104, 108, thepressure sensor 106, the delivery device 110, the optical detectionsystem 212, etc., have been illustrated as separate components, one ormore components and/or combinations thereof can be integrated together.For example, both the light source 214 and the photodetector 216 can beincorporated into the infusion pump 102, and the pressure sensor 106 canbe loaded inside the infusion pump 102 when the infusion pump 102 isoperating. In the above-described embodiments, the delivery device 110includes a needle 112 for delivering the liquid intravenously, but itshould be recognized that the delivery device 110 can be configureddifferently to deliver the fluid to the patients in other manners. Thedelivery device 110 in other embodiments can, for example, include afeeding tube.

The pressure sensor 106 can be positioned at various locations. Forinstance, the pressure sensor 106 can be located along the tubing atother locations than is shown. While it should be appreciated from thediscussion above that there are a number of advantages to the shape ofthe pressure sensor 106 illustrated in the drawings, it is contemplatedthat the pressure sensor 106 can be shaped differently in otherembodiments. Instead of having the illustrated rectangular, box (flat)shape, the pressure sensor 106 or a portion thereof can have acylindrical shape, a disc shape, a spherical shape, and/or a cube shape,to name just a few examples. In the illustrated embodiment, theholographic label wall 206 of the sensor body 202 is normally flat whenno pressure is applied, but in other embodiments, the holographic labelwall 206 (along with other walls) can be normally not flat (e.g.,distended) during low pressure conditions. In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, theholographic label wall 206 and the opposing wall 208 move as thepressure changes, but in other embodiments, the opposing wall 208 can berigid such that only the holographic label wall 206 moves. In oneembodiment, the pressure sensor 106 all or in part is made of an elasticmaterial, such as rubber or plastic, but the pressure sensor 106 canmade from other materials.

The optical detection system 212 in other embodiments can furtherinclude other optical components, such as lenses, gratings, filters,and/or prisms, to name just a few examples. In the depicted embodiment,the holographic label 204 can be secured to the sensor body 202 throughany number of techniques including, but not limited to, via an adhesive,ultrasonic welding, stitching, etc. Moreover, the material forming theholographic label 204 can be directly applied to the holographic labelwall 206 through any number of deposition techniques including ink jetprinting, screen printing, painting, hot stamping, and/or die coating,to just name a few examples. As described, the holographic label 204 wasdistinct from the holographic label wall 206, but in other variations,the holographic label 204 is integrally incorporated into theholographic label wall 206. In addition, the holographic label 204 canbe located at different locations on the sensor body than is shown. Theholographic label 204 in the above-described embodiment has a specificcolor pattern that changes depending on its distortion relative to itsoriginal size and location to the photodetector 216 as the holographiclabel wall 206 deforms. In further embodiments, the holographic label204 can include specific image patterns and/or darkened area patterns soas to enhance the unique optical signature, provide additionalinformation, and/or improve measurement precision. The optical signaturecan be unique for each individual pressure sensor 106 for trackingpurposes or unique for each type of pressure sensor 106. For instance,the holographic label 204 in one variation has a unique holographicimage. Of course, other color and/or image patterns can be used in otherembodiments.

The sensor body 602 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is illustrated as having a largerdiameter in comparison to the tubing 104, 108, but it is envisioned thatin other variations, the sensor body 602 can be have the same or smallerdiameter as compared to the tubing 104, 108. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6, the holographic label 204 is only partiallywrapped around the sensor body 602, but it is contemplated that in otherembodiments the holographic label 204 can be wrapped completely aroundthe sensor body 602 or contain multiple holographic labels 204 atvarying radial locations along the sensor body 602.

The above-described sensors can be used to measure pressure in othermanners. For instance, instead of detecting pressure changes throughfrequency shifts, the pressure changes can be detected at least in partbased on the amplitude of the reflected light. Specifically, the lightsource 214 in another example emits monochromatic light, and thepressure change is measured through the change in intensity of thereflected light as the holographic label 204 expands and contracts.

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of interpreting the specification and claims, thefollowing definitions apply:

The term “fluid” generally means a continuous amorphous substance thattends to flow and to conform to the outline of its container, like aliquid or gas.

The term “holographic label” means a surface that provides or reflectsdifferent wavelengths of light at different angles. The holographiclabel can include, but is not limited to, diffraction gratings and otherdispersive optical devices like prisms.

The term “infusion pump” generally means a device that releases ameasured amount of a substance in a specific period of time in order toinfuse fluids, such as medications or nutrients, into a subject's body.The infusion pump can administer the fluid in a number of mannersincluding, but not limited to, intravenously, subcutaneously,arterially, gastrically, and/or epidurally.

The term “light” is used in the broader sense to mean electromagneticradiation of any wavelength, including electromagnetic radiation that isvisible or invisible to the normal unaided human eye.

The term “light source” means broadly any device or object thatgenerates or otherwise provides light. Nonlimiting examples of lightsources include incandescent light bulbs, halogen light bulbs, arclamps, fluorescent tubes, high intensity lamps, Light Emitting Diodes(LEDs), the sun as well as other stars, chemoluminescence sources,bioluminescence sources, cathode ray tubes, or some combination thereof.

The term “optical signature” means generally a property of lightprovided by and/or reflected from the holographic label that is able todifferentiate one holographic label from another.

The term “polychromatic light” means light composed of more than onewavelength.

The term “photodetector” means a sensor that detects the properties oflight including, but not limited to, intensity, frequency, wavelength,phase, color temperature, and/or brightness. The photodetector can senseelectromagnetic radiation that is visible or invisible to the normalunaided human eye. Non-limiting examples of photodetectors includespectrometers, spectroscopes, spectrographs, optical detectors, chemicaldetectors, photoresistors, Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs),photovoltaic cells, photodiodes, photomultiplier tubes, phototubes,phototransistors, Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs), ComplementaryMetal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, reverse-biased Light EmittingDiodes (LEDs) that act as photodiodes, or some combination thereof.

The terms “tube” or “tubing” generally means a conduit including a longhollow object used to hold and/or conduct fluids. Although usuallycylindrical in shape, the tubing can have other shapes. Moreover, thetubing can be rigid or flexible, and it can be made from many differentmaterials, like plastic, metals, and glass, to name a few examples.

The language used in the claims and specification is to only have itsplain and ordinary meaning, except as explicitly defined above. Thewords in the above definitions are to only have their plain and ordinarymeaning. Such plain and ordinary meaning is inclusive of all consistentdictionary definitions from the most recently published Webster'sdictionaries and Random House dictionaries.

It should be noted that the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, and thelike as used in the description and/or the claims include the pluralforms unless expressly discussed otherwise. For example, if thespecification and/or claims refer to “a device” or “the device”, itincludes one or more of such devices.

It should be noted that directional terms, such as “up”, “down”, “top”“bottom”, “upstream”, “downstream”, etc., are used herein solely for theconvenience of the reader in order to aid in the reader's understandingof the illustrated embodiments, and it is not the intent that the use ofthese directional terms in any manner limit the described, illustrated,and/or claimed features to a specific direction and/or orientation.

The publications and patents discussed herein are provided solely fortheir disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application.Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the presentinvention is not entitled to antedate such publications and patents byvirtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication providedmay be different from the actual publication dates, which may need to beindependently confirmed.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit ofthe inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected.All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individualpublication, patent, or patent application were specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth inits entirety herein.

1. A system, comprising: a sensor having a sensing portion configured todeform as pressure changes inside the sensor; a holographic labelaffixed to the sensing portion of the sensor, the holographic labelbeing deformable to deform with the sensing portion as the pressurechanges inside the sensor; a light source configured to shine light ontothe holographic label; and a photodetector oriented to detect the lightreflected from the holographic label.
 2. The system of claim 1, in whichthe sensor has a holographic label wall at the sensing portion that hasa wall thickness that differs from the rest of the sensor, theholographic label being attached at the holographic label wall.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, in which the sensing portion is flat.
 4. The systemof claim 3, further comprising: tubing configured to transport fluid tothe sensor; and the sensing portion being wider than the tubing.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, in which the holographic label has a unique opticalsignature that differentiates the sensor from other types of similarlyconstructed sensors.
 6. The system of claim 5, in which the uniqueoptical signature includes orientation of diffraction grating lines ofthe holographic label.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: adelivery device configured to deliver fluid to a patient; an infusionpump configured to pump fluid to the delivery device, the infusion pumpbeing operatively coupled to the photodetector; tubing configured totransport the fluid from the infusion pump to the delivery device, thesensor being disposed along the tubing to sense the pressure of thefluid in the tubing; and the infusion pump being configured to determinethe pressure of the fluid in the tubing based on the properties of thelight reflected off the holographic label detected with thephotodetector.
 8. The system of claim 1, in which the holographic labelhas diffraction grating lines oriented transverse relative to the lightsource and the photodetector.
 9. The system of claim 8, in which theholographic label has diffraction grating lines oriented perpendicularto the light source and the photodetector.
 10. The system of claim 1, inwhich the sensor has a cylindrical shape.
 11. The system of claim 10, inwhich the holographic label wraps completely around the sensor.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, in which the holographic label includes diffractiongrating lines that are orientated to create a series of rings around thesensor.
 13. The system of claim 10, in which the holographic labelincludes diffraction grating lines that extend parallel to a fluid flowpath in the sensor.
 14. The system of claim 1, in which the light fromthe light source is polychromatic light.
 15. The system of claim 14, inwhich the photodetector is configured to detect color changes of thelight reflected from the holographic label as the holographic labeldeforms, the color changes being indicative of the pressure changes. 16.The system of claim 14, in which the holographic label includesdiffraction grating lines being linearly gapped to linearly affectfrequency of the light reflected from the holographic label.
 17. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: wherein the light configured toshine from the light source is polychromatic light; tubing configured totransport fluid to the sensor; the sensing portion being wider than thetubing; a delivery device configured to deliver fluid to a patient; aninfusion pump configured to pump fluid to the delivery device, theinfusion pump being operatively coupled to the photodetector; tubingconfigured to transport the fluid from the infusion pump to the deliverydevice, the sensor being disposed along the tubing to sense the pressureof the fluid in the tubing; the infusion pump being configured todetermine the pressure of the fluid in the tubing based on theproperties of the light reflected off the holographic detected with thephotodetector; the sensor having a holographic label wall at the sensingportion that is thinner than the rest of the sensor, the holographiclabel being attached at the holographic label wall; the holographiclabel having diffraction grating lines oriented transverse to the lightsource and the photodetector; the holographic label includingdiffraction grating lines being linearly gapped to linearly affectfrequency of the light reflected from the holographic label; thephotodetector being configured to detect color changes of the lightreflected from the holographic label as the holographic label deforms,the color changes being indicative of the pressure changes; and theholographic label having a unique optical signature that differentiatesthe sensor from other types of sensors.
 18. The system of claim 1,further comprising: wherein the light from the light source ismonochromatic light; tubing configured to transport fluid to the sensor;the sensing portion being wider than the tubing; a delivery deviceconfigured to deliver fluid to a patient; an infusion pump configured topump fluid to the delivery device, the infusion pump being operativelycoupled to the photodetector; tubing configured to transport the fluidfrom the infusion pump to the delivery device, the sensor being disposedalong the tubing to sense the pressure of the fluid in the tubing; theinfusion pump being configured to determine the pressure of the fluid inthe tubing based on the properties of the light reflected off theholographic label detected with the photodetector; the sensor having aholographic label wall at the sensing portion that is thinner than therest of the sensor, the holographic label being attached at theholographic label wall; the holographic label having diffraction gratinglines oriented transverse to the light source and the photodetector; theholographic label including diffraction grating lines being linearlygapped to linearly affect frequency of the light reflected from theholographic label; a light source configured to shine polychromaticlight onto the holographic label; the photodetector being configured todetect changes in amplitude of the monochromatic light reflected fromthe holographic label as the holographic label deforms, the colorchanges being indicative of the pressure changes; and the holographiclabel having a unique optical signature that differentiates the sensorfrom other types of sensors.
 19. A method, comprising: detecting lightreflected off a holographic label disposed on a pressure sensor thatdeforms as pressure changes inside the pressure sensor; and determiningthe pressure inside the pressure sensor based on a property of the lightreflected off the holographic label.
 20. The method of claim 19, inwhich said determining the pressure comprises detecting changes in peakwavelength of the light reflected off the holographic label.
 21. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising: wherein the holographic labelhas an optical signature; detecting that an incorrect pressure sensor isbeing used based on the optical signature; and generating an alert basedon said detecting.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprisingcalibrating pressure readings based on the optical signature.
 23. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising: shining polychromatic light ontothe holographic label, wherein the holographic label includesdiffraction grating lines being uniformly spaced to linearly affectfrequency of the light reflected from the holographic label; and saiddetermining the pressure inside the pressure sensor includes measuringthe frequency of the light reflected from the holographic label.
 24. Themethod of claim 19, in which said determining the pressure comprisesdetecting changes in amplitude of the light reflected off theholographic label.
 25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:shining monochromatic light onto the holographic label, wherein theholographic label includes diffraction grating lines being uniformlyspaced to linearly affect the intensity of the light reflected from theholographic label; and said determining the pressure inside the pressuresensor includes measuring the intensity of the light reflected from theholographic label.